I’ve just had a call from someone asking if a Porsche Boxster Spyder RS60 would be a good used buy.
Based on the Boxster S of its day, the 2008 limited edition Spyder RS60 echoed the style of the Porsche 718 RS60 Spyder racecar from 1960.
Visually, it was distinguished by a unique front spoiler, 19-inch SportDesign wheels, GT Silver Metallic paintwork, and a red or black hood.
Inside, the RS60 had Carrera Red leather (or Dark Grey with the black roof) with a unique texture on the seat centres, door linings, steering wheel and handbrake lever, plus ‘RS60’ sill trims, unique gearlever and GT Silver dials. Also, the instrument cowling was absent to give a racecar-like look. The seat backrests, roll hoops and seatbelts were silver.
Power came from the standard Boxster S engine, but was boosted by 8bhp to 303bhp thanks to a sports exhaust with dual tailpipes.
Just 1960 examples of the Spyder RS60 were built, and each had a numbered silver-coloured plaque on the glove compartment lid.
One could argue that the RS60 was little more than a marketing device – a lightly tarted up Boxster S – and overshadowed by the later and more extreme Porsche Boxster Spyder that followed. However, history has shown that other similar limited edition Porsches have gone on to be collectable modern classics.
Today, you pay a premium for an RS60 over an equivalent standard Boxster S, but you’re getting a well-specced car with a distinctive interior and exterior. It’s also more usable than the later Spyder (which has a very basic roof) and there’s a fair chance it will have been owned by an enthusiast and, as such, been cherished, whereas many Boxsters of this age are looking a bit tired.
My advice was to go ahead and buy one!
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